Tie plate rail anchors



March 18, 1958 J. R. STEELE ETAL 2,

TIE PLATE RAIL ANCHORS Filed Feb. 5, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 F 17 I50, I v I 0 I H In. I ll" 2:5 l5 "WI gb i 26 25 I l I I2 i F6 E I I INVENTORS JAMES R. ST E AND STEPHEN M. LOUNS RY, JR.

Bywpa a4 M *4/04;

ATTORNEYS March 18, 1958 J. R. STEELE ET AL 2,827,24U

TIE PLATE RAIL ANCHORS Filed Feb. 3, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 VENTORS JAMES R. ELE

AND ST EPHEN M. LOUNSBERRYJR.

ATTORNEY- March 118, 1958 J. R. STEELE ETAL 2,827,240

TIE PLATE RAIL ANCHORS Filed Feb. 3, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS W g fight $1M ATTORNEYS March 1, 1958 J. R. STEELE ETAL 2,8

TIE. PLATE RAIL ANCHORS Filed Feb. 3, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 germ-a;

rm PLATE nan. ANCHGRS James 'R. Steele and Stephen M. Lounsherry, $12, Eu ego, N. Y., assignors to Moore as Steele Corporation, @wego, N. Y., a corporation of Belaware Appiication February 3, 55, Serial No, .35,934 22 Claims. (Q1. 238-327} is because of the variation in the hardness and density of the difier-ent ties in the track structure as well as the differen es in the character or the surfaces the ties present to the abutting anchor.

A rail anchor that bears against the tie plate only is advantageous because the creeping load is applied directly to the tie plate which in turn carries this load directly to the spikes which are in firm engagement with the tie. The creeping loads imposed in a stretch of track, equipped with anchors that bear against the tie plate, will be transmitted evenly to all anchors in the stretch because each anchor will be in contact with a solid abutting surface,

There have been attempts, heretofore, to provide rail anchors which were made to bear against the tie plate, but they were not commercially successful because such anchors were so designed that they could not be made, in a size that would be efiective, at a price that would be competitive with conventional anchors.

The general object or" the invention is to provide a rail anchor of the type described, of simple and economical construction, which can be produced at a sufhciently low cost to allow the anchor to be used on both sides of the tie plate, where necessary, for two-way anchorage of the rail.

The anchor of the present invention is made from a length of rolled stock, formed or supplemented in such a way that the cross-section of the stock, in the intermediate portion which is bent into substantial U-shape, is greater in its dimension transverse to the rail axis than are the respective end portions. Thus the section modulus of the intermediate portion is greater than would otherwise be the case with stock of the particular dimensions used. This may be accomplished by forming one or more bulges or ribs in the intermediate portion, by twisting the stock through 180 in the same portion, by forming edge flanges thereon, or by supplementing the original stock in the area in question by adding material.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide a rail anchor of the type described, comprising a lower portion adapted to extend across the bottom of the rail base and having an upturned extremity bearing against an edge of the rail base, an upper-portion extending at a vertical angle to the lower portion and adapted to rest upon the upper face of the said rail base on one side of the web of the rail, i. e. against the upper face Patented Mar. 18, 1958 of one rail base flange, and a generally U-shaped intermediate portion joining the-upper and lower portions-,-

the intermediate portion being formed or supplemented to increase the section modulus thereof.

A further object is the provision of a rail anchor-as described in the preceding paragraph, in which the said upper portion extends at a vertical angle to thelower portion, which angle is less-than the corresponding angle" between the upper and lowerfaces of the rail-base,- whereby the anchor, when applied to therail, exerts a resilient'frictional grip upon the rail, said upper'portion" having an upturned extremity the lower surface of-which:

is curved to match thefillet connecting the adjacent 'rail-;

base 'ilange with the web of the rail, whe'reby the frictional hold of the anchor upon the rail is increased.

A further object is the provision of a rail -anchor of; the type defined in the-preceding paragraphs, in which the intermediate portion is formed or supplemented in any of'the ways hereinafter described.

Another object is the provision of a tieplate rail anchor of the type described having means facilitating its removal from the rail when desired.- A further object is the provision of an anchor having superior grippingao tion on therail by .virtueof having its upper portion relieved centrally so as to grip the rail base along-its two edges rather than over its entire area.

Other and further objects, featuresan advantages-Wilh= be apparent from-the descriptionwh'ich follows, read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: I

igure 1 is a view showing a rail in transverse=section and the corresponding tie*portion,- tie plate,'anch'oryand spikes in side elevation, the anchor being shown'in a position of partial application;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing the anchor in its final position on the "rail;

Figure 3 is an elevational view at to Figures -1 and 2, and showing the anchor in position as 'in Fi'gure-2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view of-the'anchoron line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating the distribution'of forces exertedon the rail'by the anchor;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 2, illustrating it modification-of the anchor;

Figure 7 is an elevational view at 90" to Figure6;"

Figures 8 and 9 are top and'bottom views,"respectivel'y,

corresponding to Figure 6;

Figure 10 is a side elevation'of a further modificatioii,

Figure 11 being an end elevation thereof;

Figure 12 is a sectional view on line 12-'-12 of Figure- 1 13, which is a sectional view'on line 13'13'of *Fig'ure l2, both'views illustrating a further modification;

Figures 14 and 16 are side"elevations of further r'n'odi' fications, Figures 15 and 17 being end elevationsof the respective modifications;

Figure 18 is a fragmentary plan'view corresponding' to Figure 16;

Figure 19 is a fragmentary side elevation of a still" further modification;

Figure 20 is a sectional-view on line 2020 of Fig-- ure 19;

Figure 21 is a side elevational viewof a further embodiment of the invention, installed on a rail;

Figures 22 and 23 are opposite end elevations of-the anchor of Figure 21;

Figure 24 is a fragmentary plan view of the anchor of Figure 21;

Figures'25 and 26 are sectional views on lines 25- -25 Figure 29 is an end. elevation of the modification of Figure 27.

In order to facilitate an understanding of the invention, reference is made to the embodiments thereof shown in'the accompanying drawings and detailed descriptive language is employed. it will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the invention is. thereby intended and that various changes and alterations are contemplated such as would ordinarily occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. 7

As will be readily understood, the rail anchor of the present invention, like rail anchors generally, is intended to' be used in combination with the usual rail 1%, tie plate 11, and wooden cross-tie 12. The rail 10 comprises the usual head portion 13, web 14 and base'15, the

' latter comprising, in turn, opposed flange portions 15::

able fashion.-- The base flanges 15a and 15b taper upwardly from their'outer edges toward the web 14, to which they are joined by curved fillets 17a and 17b.

The rail anchor of the present. invention, as exemplified in Figures 1-5, inclusive is designated generally by the numeral 29 and comprises a lower portion 21 having ian upturned extremity 22, and upper portion 23 terminating in the curved extremity 24, and an intermediateportio'n 25, bent in a shape generally correspending to the letter U integral with and joining the portions Ziand 23. The anchor 2% is formed from a piece of spring steel of rectangular section of a thickness not greater than that of the tie plate so that, when infposition on the rail 10, the anchor 29 cannot engage the cross-tie 12, but anycreep loads will be transmitted through direct'engagementbetween the anchor Zil and the tie plate 11. Prefereably, the width of the anchor,

i. e. its dimension parallel to the axis of the rail, will approximate seven times the'thickness of the material from which it is formed, for example, it may be formed of 4inch stock, and a suitable width is 1% inches.

The lower portion 21 of the anchor is of a length.

approximating the transverse dimension of the rail base,

while the upper portion 23 is somewhat less than onehalf as long, since it is intended to engage and bear against only the uppersurface of the base flange 15a and the adjacent filletl7a. Joining the aforesaid lower and upper portions 21 and 23, is a U-shapedintermediate portion 25 which is bent in such a fashion'that the upper portion 23 of the anchor extends at a vertical angle to thelower portion 21 which angle is less than the taper of the upper surface of flange 1511. Thus, the anchor must be sprung into place, after which the rail base will be tightly gripped between the portions 21 and 23 of the anchor. a

For the purpose of strengthening the intermediate portion 25, and for another purpose mentioned hereinafter,

the intermediate portion is formed with an outwardly bulging rib 26 extending longitudinally thereof and tapering in height from the respective ends of the intermediate'portion, where it joins the upper and lower portions respectively, to a point midway therebetween.

The shape of'the rib 26 may be seen, in transverse section, in Figure 4. V in the course of producing the rib 2 6, which is formed before the stock is bent into a substantial U-shape as described, the overall width of the stock is diminished in the neighborhood of the rib so that the width of the intermediate portion 25 of the i in Figure 1 to that seen in Figure 2. When the anchor has been applied correctly the extremity 22 engages the edge of the base flange 15b and the anchor grips the rail with forces distributed approximately as seen in Figure 5.

When a creeping load is applied to the anchor 20 by the tie plate 11, it is applied against the lower portion 21 of the anchor. This produces a torque which attempts to rotate the anchor about an axis XX which is above the rail base 15 and which passes near or through the point A in Figure 2; This, in turn, causes the anchor to increase its grip on the rail, since the tendency to rotate about axis XX is resisted by the resilient force tending to maintain portions 21 and 23 in their predetermined angular relationship. This tendency to rotate also brings the extremity 22 of the anchor into contact with the shoulder 11a of the tie plate 11, which in turn causes a tendency V to rotate the anchor about an axis perpendicular to'the rail base, thus causing the anchor to increase its grip on the rail, between the extremity 22 and the extremity 24. Due to the diminished width of the curved intermediate portion 25 of the anchor, the latter doesnot contact the adjacent shoulder 11b of the tie plate, which would counte'rac't the elfect just described.

The rail anchor of the present invention is effective and practical because of the following features, which are novel as applied to rail anchors of the present type.

(1) The longitudinal rib around the curved portion of the anchor increases the strength through this section, by increasing the section modulus in this portion, which is subject to the greatest deformation when the anchor is applied to the rail. Because of this rib it requires more force to open the anchor a certain amount than would be the case if the rib were not present. Therefore with this rib a smaller'width and hence a lighter section of bar canbe used to fabricate the anchor and, since the greatest cost in the manufacture of an anchor is the steel cost, it becomes possible, with the present design, to make an effective anchor which can be sold at substantially less than current conventional anchors.

(2) The method of take-up of the present anchor places the maximum amount of material in the anchor under stress so that it is used for gripping the rail.

(3) Due to the fact that the upper portion of the anchor extends 'into and bears against the fillet connecting the web and base of rail, there is no danger of over-driving this anchor when it is applied to the rail.

(4) The radius of the curved portion is made as large aspossible in order to reduce the concentrated stresses in this section .where stresses reach a maximum.

(5) The anchor bears against the tie plate only, thereby transmitting creeping loads to the tie through the spikes, which are already in close engagement with the tie. This insures that every anchor will transmitits load to the tie in exactly the same way as every other anchor,

which will result in a uniform loading of ties in the dragging equipment or a derailment because the raised rib supported by the wide bearing surface will cushion any blows received on thetop of the anchor.

(10) It is highly improbable that the wheel treads could strike this anchor, in case of derailment, because they would be lifted over the anchor by the wheel flanges riding over the tie plate. 7

(11) No special tool is required. A T

a-sazzam witha maul.

Therailanchor 'illustratedin Figures 6-9, inclusive,

is similar to that of Figures l'5, inclusive, except that the U-shaped intermediate portion 39 is formed by twisting the stock through 180 before bending it into U-shape, and the -rib 26 of the previously-described embodiment is omitted. The twisting takes the form of two 90 twists, one at each extremity of the U-shaped portion 36, the respective 90 twists bein made in the same sense or in opposite senses, as preferred. The mode of application of. the anchor, and its stated advantages, are unchanged.

The rail anchor 31 illustrated in Figures 10 and 11 is formed from a length of flat stock, the rectangular section of which has not been altered in bending the same into a substantial U-shape aspreviously described. In this case the strength and section modulus of the intermediate portion are improved by welding to the exterior surface thereof a U-shaped supplemental strip 32, for example of rectangular section narrower than that of the anchor proper;

In that form of the invention illustrated in Figures 12 and 13, the anchor 31, similar to that of Figure 10, is supplemented by springing thereonto a U-shaped clip 33, for example of rectangular section somewhat wider than thatof the anchor proper, the edges 34 being turned inwardly to prevent accidental lateral displacement of the clip.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 14 and 15, a strip of rectangular section is deformed, before bending, to provide outwardly directed lateral flanges 35. In the form illustrated in Figures 16 and 17 the strip material is deformed, before bending, to provide two spaced ribs 36 extending throughout the intermediate portion of the an-.

chor. In each of the latter two embodiments, the crosssection of the anchor is narrowed somewhat, throughout the intermediate portion, in the course of the aforesaid deformation.

In the embodiment of Figure 16 it will be seen that the extremity 37 of the lower portion 38 of the anchor is bulged outwardly in its center portion to form a protuberance 59, seen in plan in Figure 18. This protuberance greatly facilitates the ease of removal of the anchor from a rail, since the extremity gripping the edge of the rail base may be much more easily struck with a maul or similar implement by virtue of the protuberance, thus minimizing the danger of striking the rail base, which .ight cause injury thereto.

The embod ment illustrated in Figures 19 and is similar to that ustrated in Figures 1 and 5, except that the rib 419, ice the rib 25, is extended to the end of the upper portion ll of the anchor, thus providing a central longitudinally extending relief. Thus the upper portion 41 grips the rail base along two edge areas 42 and 43, and the unit pressure exerted by the anchor on the rail base is enhanced, thereby increasing the grip of the anchor upon the rail. This feature is of particular advantage if the rail base covered with grease or dirt, and also prevents seating of the upper portion of the anchor along its central only, through manufacturing inaccuracies, which would be disadvantageous.

The featur s just described may be carried forward by the employment, in the manufacture of rail anchors according to the invention, of strip material of other than flat rectangular section. For example, Figures 21 to 26, inclusive, illustrate a form of anchor employing strip material of angle section as the starting material. The material is deformed, before bending into U-shape so that the upper portion 45" and the lower portion 46 of the anchor are approximately of the transverse section illustrated in Figure 26, while the intermediate U-shaped portion 47 has approximately the appearance, in transverse section, illustrated in Figure 25. The section modulus of the intermediate portion is thus of greater value than that of the upper and lower portions while,

ate the same time, it will .beapparent that-the. grip of the anchor upon the rail, by both the upper and lower portions, is exerted along marginal areas, as exemplified at 48 in Figure 26, the central areas between the respective marginal areas 48 being spaced from the adjacent surface of the rail base.

A protuberance 49 for facilitating removal of the anchor from a rail may, in the present embodiment, be conveniently formed as illustrated in Figures 21 and 24,

by slitting the distal end of the lower portion 46 into three segments and bending upwardly the extremities 50 of the outer segments while allowing the central segment to remain in alignment with the body of the lower portion 46. Alternatively, the entire distal extremity of the lower portion 45 may be bent upwardly as seen in Figures 27-29, the protuberance 51 being constituted by the angular junction between the webs of the starter material while the marginal portions of the respective webs grip the edge of the rail base as illustrated.

of the features illustrated and described herein, in a single anchor, may be advantageously employed.

Having thus described the invention,.what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A rail anchor for use in securing a rail, having integral tapered base and web portions and fillets at the junction of said base and web portions, against longitudinal movement relative to the tie plate on which said rail is seated and the tie to which said tie plate is secured,

comprising a spring steel member having a lower portion adapted to extend across the bottom of the rail base in a direction normal to the length of the rail and having an unturned ortion at one extremit ada ted to en age an a edge or said rail base, an upper portion extending at a vertical angle to said lowerportion and adapted to rest upon rail web and having an upturned extremity the lower surfaceof which is curved to match one-of said fillets, and a generally U-shaped intermediateportion joining said lower and upper portions, at least the central part of said intermediate portion being of a cross-section the dimension of which, in a direction perpendicular to the plane of theedge of the rail base, is greater than the respective dimensions or" the cross-sections of said lower and upper portions in directions perpendicular to the. rail surfaces with which these upper and lower portions are respectively adapted to contact.

2. A rail anchor for use in securing a rail, having integral tapered base and web portions and fillets at the junction of said base and web portions, againstv longitudinal movement relative to the tie plate on which said rail is seated and the tie to which said tie plate is secured,

ng a spring steel member having a lower portion comp: adapted to extend across the bottom of the rail base in a direction normal to the length of the rail and having an upturned portion at one extremity adapted to engage an edge of said rail base, an upper portion extending at a vertical angle to said lower portion and adapted to rest upon the upper face of said rail base on one side of the rail web and having an upturned extremity the lower surface of which is curved to match one of said fillets, and a generally U-shaped intermediate portion joining said lower and upper portions, at least the central part of said intermediate portion being of a cross-section the dimen-v sion of which, in a direction perpendicular to the plane 7 of the edge of the rail base, is greater than the respec It is contemplated, of course, that various combinations the upper face of said rail base on one side of the V -4. A rail-anchor according to claim 1, the section of said central part being derived from the original section of said member by deformation of said central part to increase'its dimension transverse to the longitudinal rail axis and decrease its dimension parallel to the said rail axis.

A rail anchor according to claim 1, the section of said centralpart being derived from the original section of said member by deformation of said central part to form at least one longitudinal element projecting out: wardly beyond the plane of the remainder of said central part.

6. A rail anchor according to claim 1, the section of said central part being derived from the original section of said member by deformation of said central part to form at least one rib bulging outwardly beyond the general plane of said central part. I

7. A r'ail anchor according to claim 1, the section of said central part being derived from the original sec tion'of said member by deformation of said central part to form at least one flange projecting outwardly beyond the generalplane of said central part.

8. A rail anchor according to claim 1, said extremity of said lower portion being formed to provide a pro tuberance presenting a generally horizontal surface extending in a direction away from the rail axis to a point beyond said rail base edge engaging portion.

9. A railanchor according to claim 1, the lower sur-' face of said upper portion being formed to provide a central longitudinal element displaced upwardly from the general plane of said lower surface.

10. A rail anchor as defined in claim 1, the vertical angle between said lower and upper portions being less than the angle of taper of said rail base.

11. A rail anchor according to claim 2, said supplemental strip being welded to said member.

12. A rail anchor according to claim 2, said supplemental strip being detachably retained on said meta member by spring action.

13. A spring steel rail'anchor for use in securing a rail, having integral tapered base and'web portions and fillets at the junction of said base and web portions, against'longitudinal movement relative to the tie plate on which said rail is seated and the tie to which said tie plate is secured, comprising a lower portion adapted to extend across the bottom of the rail base in a direction normai to the-length of the rail and having an upturned extremity adapted to bear against an edge of said rail base, an upper portion extending at a vertical angle to said lowerportion andadapted to rest upon the upper face of said rail base on one side of the rail web and having an upturned extremity the lower surface of which is curved to match one of said fillets, said lower and upper portions being of substantially rectangular cross-section, and a generally U-shaped intermediate portion joining said lower and upper portions, said intermediate portion being of a progressively varying section derived from a substantially rectangular section by deformation thereof to progressively increase the dimension thereof in a di-' rection transverse to the longitudinal rail axis and progressivelydecrease the overall dimension thereof in a direction parallel to the said rail axis, said variation comprising a lower portion adapted to extend across the bottom 'of the rail base in a direction normal to the length of the rail and having an upturned extremity adapted to bear against an edge of said rail base, an upper portion where said intermediate portion merges with said lower and upper portions, respectively, to its midpoint adjacent the deepest part of the U-bend of said intermediate portion. s

15. A rail anchor as defined in claim 14, the over-all width of said intermediate portion decreasing as theheight of said rib increases.

16. A rail anchor for use in securing a rail, having integral taperedbase and web portions and filiets at the junction of said base and web portions, against longitudinal movement relative to the tie plate on which said rail is seated and the tie to which said tie plateis secured, comprising a U-shaped spring steel member having a lower portion adapted to extend across the bottom of the rail base in a direction normal to the length of the rail and having an upturned portion at one extremity adapted to engage an edge of said rail base, an upper portion extending at a vertical angle to said lower portion and adapted to rest upon the upper face of said rail base on one side of the rail web and having an upturned exn'emity the lower surface of which is curved to match one of said fillets, and a generally U-shaped intermediate portion joining said lower and upper portions, at least the central part of said intermediate portion being of a cross-section the dimension of which, in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the'edge of the rail'base, is greater than the respective dimensions of the cross-sections of said lower and upper portions in directions perpendicular to the rail surfaces with which these upper and lower portions are respectively adapted to contact, said memberhaving a' longitudinal rib extending throughout the length of the outer' surface thereof, said rib being of greater height through said intermediate portionthan in said upper and lower portions.

17. A rail anchor according to claim 16, said member comprising a length of angle stock the respective webs of which are deformed in portions adjacent the respective ends of said length to bring the distal margins of said Webs into a common plane.

18. A rail anchor according to claim 16, said extremity 'of said'lowerportion being formed to provide aprotuberance presenting a generally horizontal surface extending in a direction away from the rail axis to a point beyond said rail base edge engaging portion.

19. A rail anchor according to claim 17, said extremity of said lower portion being formed to provide a protuberance presenting a generally horizontal surface extending in a direction away from the rail axis to a point beyond said rail base edge engaging portion.

20. A rail anchor according to claim 17, said extremity ofsaid lower portion being formed to provide a protuberance presenting a generally horizontal surface extending in a direction away from the rail axis to a point beyond said rail base edge engagingportion, a central part of said extremity extending in alignment with the main body of said lower portion to form said protuberance and the lateral parts corresponding to said central part forming the said upturned portion.

21. A rail anchor according to claim 17, said extremity of said lower portion being formed to provide a 'protuberance' presenting a generally horizontal surface extending in a direction away from the rail axis to a point beyond said rail base edge engaging portion, -a central part of said extremity extending'in'alignment with the main body of said lower portion to form said protuberance and the lateral parts corresponding to said central part forming the said uptu ned portion, said central and lateral parts being separated from each other and integral with said main body.

22. A rail anchor for use in securing a rail, having integral tapered base and Web portions and fillets at the junction of said base and web portions, against longitudinal movement relative to the tie plate on which said rail is seated and the tie to which said tie plate is secured, comprising a spring steel member having a lower portion adapted to extend across the bottom of the rail base in a direction normal to the length of the rail and having an upturned portion at one extremity adapted to engage an edge of said rail base, an upper portion extending at a vertical angle to said lower portion and adapted to rest upon the upper face of said rail base on one side of the rail web and having an upturned extremity the lower surface of which is curved to match one of said fillets, said lower and upper portions being of substantially rectangular cross-section, and a generally U-shaped intermediate portion joining said lower and upper portions, said intermediate portion comprising a portion of material of substantially rectangular section twisted so that the greater dimension of the section extends in a plane normal to the rail axis.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,303,237 Berkeley May 13, 1919 1,303,238 Berkeley May 13, 1919 1,569,116 Busby Jan. 12, 1926 1,749,558 Barili et a1 Mar. 4, 1930 1,777,991 Moore et a! Oct. 7, 1930 1,779,979 Moore et al Oct. 28, 1930 1,799,723 Blair Apr. 7, 1931 2,061,804 Mulvihill Nov. .24, 1936 2,101,884 Warr Dec. 14, 1937 2,132,367 Wolhaupter Oct. 4, 1938 2,293,423 Clarkson Aug. 18, 1942 2,493,686 Moore et al. Jan. 3, 1950 2,511,062 Hyle et al June 13, 1950 2,522,314 Spencer Sept. 12, 1950 2,599,004 Lutz June 3, 1952 

